GB2115118A

GB2115118A - Projectile for practice ammunition

Info

Publication number: GB2115118A
Application number: GB08304412A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dr Dietrich Hoffman; Udo Gotz
Original assignee: Mauser Werke Oberndorf GmbH
Current assignee: Mauser Werke Oberndorf GmbH
Priority date: 1982-02-17
Filing date: 1983-02-17
Publication date: 1983-09-01
Also published as: IT8319568A1; GB8304412D0; IT8320793V0; NL8204676A; IT8319568A0; DE3205612A1; CH661978A5; IT1161892B

Abstract

The projectile for practice ammunition consists of only three parts, namely the cap part 1, the tail part 2 and the driving band 3. According to the invention, the mass of the projectile can be varied solely by simple blind bores 7 and 8 in the cap part 1 and/or in the tail part 2, without the outer contour of the projectile changing and without the centre of gravity being shifted to a considerable extent. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Projectile for practice ammunition The invention relates to a projectile for practice ammunition, whereof the projectile mass corres ponds respectively to that of corresponding live ammunition.

Practice ammunition is characterised in known manner by target-practice and acceptance ammunition, which as regards weight or mass is substantial ly equal to that of corresponding combat ammunition. It serves both for training with the weapon, for example for practicing loading, aiming and hitting the target, as well as for operationai and acceptance tests of the weapon. In the recent past, lower calibre cartridge-case base ammunition (APDS) has prevailed with regard to full calibre, armour-piercing ammunition (AP or API). However, the lower calibre cartridge-case base ammunition not only has a greater performance, but also is more expensive to produce. Therefore, the known projectiles for practice ammunition are not suitable for the simulation of live ammunition of this type on account of the differences in mass, powder and shape.Since tests of the working life of weapon barrels and other weapon parts, such as the breech and loading mechanism, necessitate a very high number of corresponding practice projectiles, the practice ammunition must be able to be produced economically and in large numbers.

The projectile mass of combat ammunition is an essential interior ballistics parameter. This is also true without reservation for practice ammunition. If one proceeds from the fact that a powder, which was adapted to a light projectile, for example a hard core projectile with cartridge-case base (APDS), is generally not optimum for a heavy projectile, for example an armour-piercing (AP) or high explosive (HE) projectile, then for the development of a powder for an APDS projectile, one cannot use any practice ammunition with a substantially higher mass. What is valid for the powder development, is also true for the examination of the operation of the weapon, for strength tests on the weapon and for weapon wear tests.The known projectiles for practice ammunition are generally not particularly easy to manufacture, since they comprise threads, recesses and a relatively large number of components.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a projectile for practice ammunition of the aforementioned type, which has good ballistic properties, consists of the smallest possible number of individual parts, can be easily assembled and without changing the outer contour can be used for different projectile masses.

This object is achieved according to the invention due to the fact that two projectile parts connected firmly one to the other and comprising a driving band at the tail end form the projectile, in which case its total projectile mass can be varied by providing coaxial blind bores in the cap part and/or in the tail part without varying the outer contour of the projectile and without substantially shifting the centre of gravity of the projectile mass. This projectile accord ing to the invention for practice ammunition is characterised first of all in that it consists in total of only three parts, namely the cap part, the tail part and the driving band. These three parts can be securely connected to each other with little expendi ture.The particular advantage lies in that a projectile with a certain outer contour and a certain mass can be varied in the most simple manner for a projectile with the same outer contour, but a different mass.

This takes place solely due to the provision of coaxial bores in the cap part and/or in the tail part of the projectile.

The cap part and the tail part may be connected by friction and/or positively. A frictional connection which is simple to achieve may be an interference fit between the connecting portions of the cap and tail part.

The two parts forming the projectile, namely the cap and tail may consist of the same material, however, they can equally well be produced from a material with the same or virtually the same specific weight or from different materials with different specific weights. All these material combinations can be achieved in conformity with the outer contour, the total mass of the projectile and the centre of gravity of its mass. It has been shown that in the case of a projectile with a cap part consisting ofalumi- nium and a tail part of approximately the same volume consisting of steel, the mass of the projectile can be varied in a marked manner for example, if a blind bore is provided in the aluminium cap part. In this case, the centre of gravity of the mass within the steel tail part is shifted only slightly.A considerable variation of the mass of the projectile is achieved if a bore is provided in the steel tail part. Also, in this case, the centre of gravity of the mass shifts only slightly from the original position.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the tail part can be constructed as a bush, which is inserted at the rear in the sheath-like cap part and closes off the projectile. Furthermore, the tail part may be constructed as a tail bolt. According to the invention, both the material with the higher specific weight as well as the material with the lower specific weight can be used as the cap part and vice versa selectively as the tail part. The bores in the cap part and/or the tail part may be produced with a uniform diameter throughout. They may also have graduated diameters or diameters tapering in a conical manner.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the drawings: Figure 1 shows a projectile for practice ammunition in section; Figure 2 shows the projectile according to Figure 1 with a bore; Figure 3 shows the projectile according to Figure 1 with a different bore; Figure 4 shows the projectile according to Figure 1 with several bores; Figure 5 shows a different projectile for practice ammunition in section; Figure 6shows the projectile according to Figure 5 with a different bore; Figure 7shows the projectile according to Figure 5 with an enlarged bore; Figure 8 shows a further projectile for practice ammunition in section; Figure 9 shows the projectile according to Figure 8 with a different bore; Figure 10 shows the projectile according to Figure 9 with an enlarged bore.

According to Figure 1, the projectile according to the invention for practice ammunition consists of the three parts: namely cap part 1, tail part 2 and driving band 3 in the tail part 2. In this example, the cap part 1 is made from aluminium and the tail part 2 from steel. Due to this, the mass of the projectile can already be influenced. The driving band 3 is formed from a soft iron/sintered iron. The cap part 1 comprises a projection 4, which for axial and radial fixed connection to the tail part 2 is inserted with an interference fit in its facing annular recess 5. With the chosen volume and material relationships, the centre of gravity of this projectile lies in the tail part 2 approximately at 6. The projectile mass of the projectile according to Figure 1 can be varied dueto a coaxial blind bore 7 in the cap part 1 according to Figure 2.As can be seen, on account of the relatively slight change of mass in the cap part 1, the centre of gravity 6 in the heavy tail part 2 is shifted only slightly. In this case, the outer contour of the projectile has not been changed. A greater variation of the mass of the projectile occurs if, according to Figure 3, a stepped blind bore 8 in this example is provided in the tail part 2. Once again the outer contour of the projectile does not change. The centre of gravity 6 remains virtually at the same point as in the example according to Figure 1. The greatest reduction of mass is provided in the example according to Figure 4, where both in the cap part 1 a blind bore 7 is provided as well as in the tail part 2, a blind bore 8 is provided. The outer contour of the projectile remains unchanged and the centre of gravity 6 shifts its position in the tail part only slightly.In the examples according to Figures 1 to 4 for a 25mm calibre, the minimum shifts of the centre of gravity as a result of the blind bores 7 and 8 amount to a maximum of 2mm. The stability of the projectile is thus changed only negligibly. On the other hand, mass variations of up to 100% are possible with these projectile constructions.

The group of projectiles for practice ammunition shown in Figures 5,6 and 7 comprises the three parts namely sheath-like cap part 9, bush-shaped tail part 10 and the driving band lion the tail part. In these examples, the variation of mass is achieved solely by the depth of the blind bore 12, 12.1 and 12.2. The bore is closed off in the rear part by the bush. The bush-like tail part 10 is connected to the cap part 9 by an interference fit and flanged ring.

In the projectiles according to Figures 8,9 and 10, a tail part 14 constructed as a tail bolt is inserted in the rear of the sheath-like cap part 13. The driving band 15 is located at the tail end on the cap part 13.

Here also, the respectively desired projectile mass is fixed by the depth of the blind bore 16, 16.1 and 16.2 in the cap part 13. In the examples according to Figures 5 to 10, the centre of gravity 6 is once more shifted solely by a minimum amount despite the variations of mass, whereas the outer contour of the projectile can always be maintained exactly. The material combinations in the examples of figures 5,6 and 7 consist of steel for the cap part 9 and the tail part 10 and in Figures 8,9 and 10 of steel for the cap part 13 and of aluminium for the tail part 14.

At 25mm calibre, the projectiles of Figures 1,6 and 9 would be variations for example, which have the same mass as the present TP-projectile of around 180 grams. The projectiles of Figures 3,7 and 10 would be variations which have the same mass as the present hard core projectile with a cartridge-case base of around 130 grams.

The invention is not restricted to the material combinations and bore variations illustrated, but in this respect also comprises solutions exceeding them but in accordance with the basic idea of the invention.

Claims

1. Projectile for practice ammunition, whereof the projectile mass corresponds respectively to the mass of corresponding live ammunition, having two projectile parts connected securely to each other and comprising a driving band at the tail end, whereof the total projectile mass can be varied by providing coaxial blind bores in the cap part and/or in the tail part without varying the outer contour of the projectile and without substantially shifting the centre of gravity of the projectile mass.

2. Projectile for practice ammunition according to claim 1, wherein the cap part and the tail part are connected to each other by friction and/or positively.

3. Projectile for practice ammunition according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the cap part is securely connected to the tail part by an interference fit.

4. Projectile for practice ammunition according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap part and the tail part are formed from the same material.

5. Projectile for practice ammunition according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap part and tail part consists of a material with the same or virtually the same specific weight.

6. Projectile for practice ammunition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap part and the tail part are formed from different material with a different specific weight.

7. Projectile for practice ammunition according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the tail part is constructed as a bush, which is inserted at the rear in the sheath-like cap part and closes off the blind bore.

8. Projectile for practice ammunition according to any one or more of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tail part is constructed as a tail bolt, which is inserted at the rear in the sheath-like cap part and closes off the blind bore.

9. Projectile for practice ammunition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projectile part with the lower specific weight with respect to the other projectile part, with a respective mutual relationship to the projectile part with the higher specific weight is constructed as a cap part or as a taii part.

10. Projectile for practice ammunition according to claim 1, wherein the blind bores have a uniform diameter throughout and/or have stepped diameters and/or have a diameter tapering in a conical manner.

11. Projectile for practice ammunition substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.